Is this Good Value - Parasound HCA-2200MKII Power Amplifier?

VXR8

Just spotted this on eBay Oz and wondered if it is good value for money . Like Polk Audio, Parasound is even rarer in Australia :eek: . It works out to be approximately $1050 USD. Here is the link to the amp:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190123085864&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com.au%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3FMfcISAPICommand%3DGetResult%26ht%3D1%26SortProperty%3DMetaEndSort%26query%3D190123085864%26ssPageName%3DADME%3AB%3ATB2%3AAU%3A2%26from%3DR18%26fvi%3D1

Thanks in advance.

janmike

Orion Bluebook =
Retail
MSRP: $1,800.00
USED: $690.00

I know a number of people here really like Parasound. Not sure about that model.

hoosier21

that is a very nice amp, 1000 us is a little higher than what it goes for here, but in OZ I have no idea what the normal price would be.

billbillw

It really depends what else you can get for that price down under. Its a great amp, no doubt, but there are many others out there that may be more refined if you don't need all that brute power. IMHO, that amp may be overkill for an RTi10 setup.

cfrizz

That amp will make ANY speaker sound terrific. There is no such thing as overkill when it comes to powering tower speakers!

Parasound makes great gear. I had a 205wpc Parasound that taught me what true amplification can do for speakers. It now resides with my brother driving his LSI 7's.

dorokusai

That's a terrible price.

hoosier21

dorokusai wrote: »

That's a terrible price.

US it is, what is the used market in Oz?

dorokusai

I have no idea, probably slim.

disneyjoe7

So how does that compare to new in Oz?

VXR8

Thank you all for your responses,

Trying to find dealers that carry new Parasound is even more difficult, so unfortunately I can't compare prices. As for powering the RTi10s, I'm looking at going to LSi9s as mains (and LSiC and LSiFX), so they will need good amplification - at least a 200 watts @ 8 ohms amp as I have read here on so many threads.

My Yamaha, although "rated" at 140 WPC gives the impression it isn't waking the 10s up yet. At the same time, I don't want to push the volume on the Yammie to damage the speakers through under powering them to the point of distortion (I have never gone above -10 on the volume and it goes to +16 - usually sit around -25).

I am also looking at a Rotel RMB1095, which I can pick up brand new for $2599 AUD (approximately $2190 US or $2340 CAD), to cater for the future LSi project. Not sure how that price compares in USD or CAD?

Here in Oz, we don't have a lot of the amps you get there - primarily Rotel and sometimes Marantz monoblocks, hence my question on this Parasound.

Thanks once again for all your input and if you have any thoughts on the Rotel stuff, I'd be happy to hear that as well.

cfrizz

Rotel also makes great gear. If you have the money for that 1095 grab it & don't look back.

You will probably never need another amp!

VXR8

cfrizz wrote: »

Rotel also makes great gear. If you have the money for that 1095 grab it & don't look back.

You will probably never need another amp!

Thank you - I'll think even if I concentrate just on the RTi10s at the moment, when I upgrade to the LSi series, as you rightly state, I won't need to consider another amp ever again.

BTW, the RMB1095 retails here at $3199 AUD, so the fact I can get it for $2599 AUD brand new is even more a bonus - from a dealer as well, not on eBay from China or the like.

Again, thanks for your input, as it is I have bought all Polk stuff "unheard" just on the advice given from this forum :eek:

cfrizz

I don't think you will be disappointed!